OnLive is looking into the tablet and Smart TV gaming market with its latest hire, Don Gordon, founder of Smart TV tech company Bulldog United. Gordon is OnLive’s new senior VP of engineering, and his goal is to drive integration of OnLive onto tablets and Smart TVs, Develop reports.

OnLive saw a public, rocky buyout and restructuring in August, when Lauder Partners picked up the company for $4.8 million. At the time, OnLive was $18.7 million in debt and had no available cash. Gaikai, a competing cloud gaming service, was picked up by sony for $380 million in July. OnLive is still open for players, and LG Smart TVs now come standard with the streaming service.

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According to OnLive, the actual download is through GOG.com and will be made available within the user’s GOG.com account upon redemption of a code provided by OnLive. The download is offered to both PC and Mac gamers, but don’t expect to see progress saved in the cloud for cross-platform progression.

In addition to purchasing The Witcher 2, the game is also currently available in OnLive’s PlayPack which costs $9.99 USD per month. This subscription model not only offers CD Projekt RED’s popular RPG, but more than 200 other games in an all-you-can-eat gaming buffet. Many have been updated to utilize game controllers and touch screens found on tablets and smartphones

OnLive has been relatively quiet on the PR front since the company’s transformation late last year. A rep was actually hanging out at LG’s area during CES 2013 in Las Vegas last month, showcasing the service on LG’s Google TV G3 Series. The beauty of OnLive’s platform is that owners of this TV – or any other OnLive-enabled TV – can play along with friends via PC, Mac and Android devices.

“LG’s dual-core performance Google TVs, coupled with OnLive’s innovative games-on-demand service, makes access to the latest videogame entertainment quicker and easier than ever before,” said Georg Rasinski, Director of Home Entertainment Brand Management, LG Electronics USA. “By integrating cloud gaming into our powerful G3 series TVs, the entertainment possibilities for consumers are virtually limitless.”

Of course, if you’re playing Witcher 2 and want to stop on one device and resume on another, then you’ll need to stick with OnLive’s cloud copy. But for those who would rather play offline on the Mac or PC, then the downloadable version is the ticket.

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In a blog post published Friday, OnLive announced it would bring its service to the console at launch next year.

“Like Ouya, we came to gaming with a new vision for making top-quality gaming accessible to more people, and we continue to look for ways to expand on that vision,” says OnLive general manager Bruce Grove in the post.

The version of OnLive for Ouya will feature “hundreds” of on-demand games, instant demos and the ability to pick up saved games on other devices such as PCs and tablets. OnLive features home console games from publishers including THQ (Darksiders II), Warner Bros. Interactive (Batman: Arkham City) and 2K (Borderlands).

The Ouya console, revealed earlier this month, features an open Android-based operating system and access to an online games store. The device is expected to sell for under $100.

According to the Kickstarter page for Ouya, the console has raised more than $5.5 million.

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The NSZ-GS7 is an Internet-enabled set-top box with Google TV built in. Within the device’s specifications page, though, the OnLive Gaming Controller and USB dongle are listed as optional accessories. This means the device will likely come with OnLive preloaded, giving customers access to the game streaming network out of the box.

While this is the first Sony product to feature OnLive, the streaming service appears to be becoming more prevalent within the set-top box sector. Most recently, the Vizio Co-Star was revealed to feature OnLive out of the box.

Sony executives are on the record saying they believe cloud gaming is the way of the future. Some have gone so far as to say cloud gaming is inevitable, though its adoption slow due to disparities in Internet connection reliability around the world.

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The Touch Edition of the game, which will be available only through OnLive, is free to players who purchased a copy through the streaming game service.

The OnLive app is available on Google’s Android operating system, and tablets such as the Samsung Galaxy Tab and Motorola Xoom support the service.

Along with the app, OnLive also launched a wireless controller compatible with games running on a tablet. It sells for $49.99.

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All features, such as replay clips and live spectating, work on the Xperia Play.

Pricing works the same way and includes either flat-rate subscription access or paying per game.

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Skyrim won Game of the Year in the event, seen live on Machinima’s YouTube Channel, beating out Bastion, Batman: Arkham City, Battlefield 3, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, Dead Space 2, Deus Ex: Human Revolution, Gears of War 3, The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword, Portal 2 and Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception.

Bethesda Softworks also won the Gamers’ Choice Award with Skyrim and Best DLC for Fallout: New Vegas (Old World Blues).

Other Winners

Best Trailer: Dead Island – Official Announcement Trailer

Best Multiplayer: Gears of War 3

Best Narrative: Portal 2

Best Art Direction: Deus Ex: Human Revolution

Best Animation: Batman: Arkham City

Best Game Cinematography: Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception

Best Indie Game: Bastion

Most Compelling Character: Wheatley in Portal 2

Best Downloadable Game: Bastion

Most Original Game: Rock of Ages

Best Original Score: Bastion

Best Sound Design: Dead Space 2

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About 25 recognizable games have been newly optimized for touch in the OnLive versions, including Assassin’s Creed: Revelations, LA Noire​, Lego Batman, and the Lego Harry Potter series. Anyone who downloads the OnLive apps gets Lego Batman for free, although it’s not apparent whether users need to sign up.

Every regular OnLive feature, such as live spectating and short video recording (Brag Clips), is accessible from the mobile interface. The service’s distinctive feature remains its ability to give the full visual detail of a game in a 720p stream without having to cache locally and while still keeping the lag low enough to play action titles.

Downloads on both platforms should be available within the next several hours as countries cross into Thursday. Gamers can either pay by the title at prices comparable to retail or subscribe at a flat rate.

The Universal Wireless Controller is unchanged from what we tried at E3 and brings the MicroConsole’s dual analog controls both to mobile devices over Bluetooth as well as to Macs and Windows PCs through a USB adapter. Along with giving a better experience for games that don’t work as well with touch, they have media controls between the grips to control OnLive’s video features.

The Universal Wireless Controller should ship December 9 for $50.

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Batman: Arkham City builds upon the intense, atmospheric foundation of Batman: Arkham Asylum, sending players flying through the expansive Arkham City—five times larger than the game world in Batman: Arkham Asylum—the new maximum security “home” for all of Gotham City’s thugs, gangsters and insane criminal masterminds. Featuring an incredible Rogues Gallery of Gotham City’s most dangerous criminals including Catwoman, The Joker, The Riddler, Two-Face, Harley Quinn, The Penguin, Mr. Freeze and many others, the game allows players to genuinely experience what it feels like to be The Dark Knight delivering justice on the streets of Gotham City.

UK Players Get an Early Start

While today marks the launch of both the game and demo in the US (in line with Warner Bros.’ North American PC release), the demo precedes the UK’s official PC launch by three days (the game will launch in the UK on November 25, 2011), giving UK PC and Mac gamers their first chance to play the game through an exclusive, fully playable preview that can only be found on OnLive. Batman: Arkham City can be played instantly on HDTV and almost any PC or Mac, with no discs, no large downloads and no high-performance hardware required.

Developed by Rocksteady Studios, published by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and based on DC Entertainment’s core Batman license, Batman: Arkham City has received critical acclaim for its console versions, with average scores of 94 to 96 on Metacritic.com, and is already a contender for “Game of the Year” awards.

To find out more about the game or OnLive’s exclusive demo, visit www.onlive.com

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Players can immediately take heroic roles in the rich and iconic world of Middle-earth. Playing as Human, Elf or Dwarf, players can team up with friends online and take on Sauron’s forces as a band of uniquely skilled allies in a hitherto untold chapter of the War of the Ring. Drawing from both the books and the popular movies, the game tells the story of a desperate battle to preserve the North from Sauron’s far-reaching hand, bringing to life a tale only hinted at in the story we know so well. Delivered as a rich and engaging co-op action role-playing game, this is the untold story of the War in the North, and of the heroes who fought there.

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All Halloween weekend long players will have the option of logging on via PC, Mac, or the OnLive Game System to play any – or all – of these four games for free. No discs, no downloads, just instant high-quality gameplay regardless of device.

What’s There to Play?

If you like the sound of a suspenseful post-apocalyptic FPS, take a shot at Metro 2033. You survived the nuclear destruction of the planet, but you live below ground, haunting what used to be the Moscow metro system. You band together with other survivors to protect your station from mutants, rival humans, and any other threats that may arise.

If a  supernatural FPS more your speed? Jump into co-op or multiplayer versions of  F.E.A.R. 3 as either Point Man or his nemesis, Paxton Fettel, as you race to undo the psychic damage left by the events of F.E.A.R. 2.

If you like the sinister and ominous, explore the unsettling world of Amnesia: The Dark Descent where nothing is quite as it seems and your lost memories hold horrors too dark to face.

You can also check out the brand new indie hit, Orcs Must Die and defend your fortresses against the onslaught of marauding orcs. Recently released on October 11, 2011, this quirky and addictive game has already garnered great reviews.

“There’s a little something for everyone during OnLive’s Free-Play Halloweekend and the best part is we’re giving everyone free access to four terrific games all weekend long,” said Matt Jensen, OnLive Community Manager.

“Whether it’s horror, FPS, multiplayer or action that you’re looking for, play for free on us, and make sure you ‘Like’ us on Facebook because we’re making a fifth game available on Halloween that will be free to play all day and night.”

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Pre-orders for LA Noire – the Complete Edition  start today, and the game will launch on the OnLive Game Service the day as the PC version, which is slated for November 8th, 2011 in the U.S. and November 11th, 2011 in the UK. This is the first time Rockstar Games and OnLive have worked together.

The game takes you into post WWII Los Angeles. You’re Cole Phelps, war-hero, trying to rebuild your life as a detective with the LAPD. But it’s more complicated than that. You have dark secrets of your own, things you’d rather forget. You’ll come face to face with criminal bosses, damsels in distress, conspiracies and, ultimately, the ghosts of your past.

L.A. Noire is a great example of art and cutting edge technology coming together to create something amazing. You’ll feel like you’re in a classic detective film from the 1940s. The story is complex, where sometimes you have to do wrong to make things right.

If you pre-order you’ll get 10% off the price of the game, that is $31.49 PlayPack Price!  Plus you also get $10 (5 GBP for UK customers) off your next purchase on OnLive.

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“OnLive has long been a supporter of independent publishers,” said OnLive VP of Games & Media John Spinale. “Simply put, they’re making some really great, innovative games these days.  We love bringing amazing new experiences to our OnLive members, and also helping innovative developers get their ideas out to a larger, more diverse audience of gamers. Win-win.”

With games from more than 11 different independent publishers already on its roster—including award-winning hits like Braid, Trine, World of Goo and The Maw—OnLive is pleased to be adding six more indie games this fall, representing a wide range of gameplay experiences from developers all over the world.

New titles coming to the OnLive service include Orcs Must Die, a twist on traditional strategy games from Robot Entertainment; LIMBO, the captivating puzzle game from Danish developers Playdead, which has won more than 90 awards to date; Magicka, an action-adventure based on Norse mythology from Paradox Interactive; Bastion, a stunning and imaginative RPG from Supergiant Games; Space Chem, a futuristic design-based puzzle game by Zachtronic Industries; and , Spiderweb Software’s addictive new fantasy game.

“The OnLive Game Service offers a unique opportunity for independent publishers to easily distribute a single version their games across all platforms at once,” said Steve Perlman, OnLive Founder and CEO. “A single simple port to OnLive renders games instantly available on TVs, PCs, Macs and soon iPad and Android tablets internationally.”

The OnLive Game Service also has instant demo and social features that enhance publishers’ exposure once their games are on the service. Anyone can check out a game by either playing the first 30 minutes totally free or “spectating” and chatting with other gamers as they play. And with Facebook integration, if someone discovers an amazing new game, they can invite their entire social network to watch them play live, check out a Brag Clip video of their gameplay or even jump in and play, right from a link on their wall.

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Customizable Options for Parents

Once an account is set up with Parental Controls, anyone accessing the Game Service with that account will experience whatever restrictions are applied. For example, no M-rated titles, no chatting with strangers, no Brag Clips, no spectating—just clean fun! When a parent wants to play they enter their secret passcode to temporarily remove or adjust the restrictions and jump back into the action!

Group Voice Chat Beta

OnLive has had two types of voice chat: Game Chat (for multiplayer sessions) and Spectator Chat (for chatting while watching someone play a game). Now they’ve added a third: Group Chat (for voice chatting with friends, no matter what they are doing). Here’s how it works: Let’s say you have 10 college buddies you like to play multiplayer games with. Now, you can create a group for them on the service that will persist from session to session. Instead of trying to track them down individually, now you can jump into a group voice chat no matter what they’re doing on the service. Voice chat while they’re playing a game, spectating others or just browsing the Marketplace … and if they’re not signed into OnLive, you can invite them to join you via integrated email notifications.

Make one group for gamers you meet on the service who play a certain multiplayer game. Make another for friends you just want to hang with when you find a great game to spectate. It’s all about easily connecting—and yakking it up—with the gamers of your choice and making the most of your gameplay time. Of course, as always, OnLive voice chat works across all platforms and worldwide, so whether your friends are using a TV, PC, Mac or are across the pond when the UK service goes live in a month, OnLive voice chat just works.

Facebook Achievement Sharing

First, OnLive made sharing gaming highs and lows a reality with automatic exporting of Brag Clip videos to Facebook. Now, your friends will recognize your crazy gamer skill with automatic Facebook sharing of Achievements. And if the game has Achievement Brag Clips configured, the epic video of your Achievement will also get shared! It feels so good collecting Facebook “likes” and comments as your friends anywhere and everywhere learn of your latest game progress—or even watch a Brag Clip video of you smashing that boss.

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OnLive membership is free, providing free instant demos of any game, exclusive massive spectating with voice chat of any live game in play on OnLive—whether in the UK or around the world, Brag Clip videos of the most awesome (or most hilarious) gaming moments, and Facebook Brag Clip postings and notifications.

Over 100 games, including top titles released the same second as consoles and PCs, available for great deals under a range of pricing plans, including OnLive’s flat-rate PlayPack bundle with over 70 games, rentals and full purchases. With free try-before-buy demos, spectating and trailers all with full Web-based parental controls.

Just sign up for free at www.onlive.co.uk, and get priority access, starting September 22nd with almost any PC or Mac via a small browser download, on the iPad or Android tablet via the free app, or on any HDTV via the OnLive Game System.

“OnLive will utterly transform gaming in the UK,” said OnLive Founder and CEO Steve Perlman. “No discs, big downloads or specialized hardware needed. OnLive gives you the latest games instantly, anytime, anywhere on HDTV, PC, Mac, as well as iPad, Android tablets. High-performance gaming as accessible as streaming video, with unique social features such as massive spectating with voice chat and Facebook integration.”

As previously announced, OnLive is working closely on its UK launch plans with BT plc, our exclusive broadband partner in the UK. Further details will be announced shortly.

OnLive in the UK will be fully integrated with OnLive’s North American service, including trans-Atlantic massive spectating and voice chat, as well as multiplayer gaming for games suited for long-distance multiplayer. OnLive will steadily expand to other European countries as well as to other continents following the UK launch. Subject to local rules and regulations, OnLive Player Tags will give OnLive members access to their OnLive account anywhere in the world that OnLive is available.

As well as being able to try, rent or buy games, UK members will have access to the best value in gaming: the OnLive PlayPack Bundle. PlayPack subscribers have unlimited access to a growing library of more than 70 games including Homefront Large-Scale Warfare Multiplayer, F.E.A.R. 3 Multiplayer, LEGO® Batman and the original Deus Ex: Game of the Year Edition.

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This Friday, between 3:00pm and 5:00 pm PDT, OnLive is turning the insanity up a notch. Homefront developers THQ have promised to infiltrate OnLive—not to fight, but to spy on multiplayer participants and award cool prizes to the players with the most memorable kills.

Here’s how you can get in on the action:

1. Whether you have Homefront Large-Scale Warfare Multiplayer through the OnLive PlayPack Bundle or a PlayPass, just sign in and launch the game this Friday, July 1, between 3:00pm and 5:00 pm PDT (6:00pm and 8:00 pm EDT).
2. Make sure you set your permissions to allow spectators to chat with you. For instructions on how to set these permissions, read the “How do I control whether spectators can chat with me while I’m playing” section. The THQ scouts will be contacting players by voice chat, so if you can’t hear, you can’t win.
3. Play either Battle Commander TDM or Ground Control multiplayer modes and bring on your best shots. Scouts going by the player Tags THQCraig and THQJeremy will be spectating and awarding prizes as outlined below, as well as randomly doling out Homefront swag to those bold enough to join the fight.

Prizes Include:

• Resistance Fighter of the Day – Astro A40 Headset & MIXAMP 5.8
• Best Killstreak – AR. Drone Parrot
• Best Vehicular Kill – OnLive Game Controller
• Best Sniper Kill – Free Full PlayPass
• Best Run-and-Gun Player – Free Full PlayPass
• Most Embarrassing Death – Free Full PlayPass
• Best Grenade Kill – Free Full PlayPass

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